Lone Peak Milestone

Lone Peak Fire District chief, Craig Carlisle, poses for a portrait on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at the Lone Peak Fire station in Highland. The fire station is celebrating its first year. ASHLEY FRANSCELL/Daily Herald .
..HIGHLAND -- A year after opening a new fire station in Highland, the Lone Peak Fire District is pleased with its expanded capabilities.

Chief Craig Carlisle said having a station in Highland helps the public.

"As far as having a station in Highland, well, it's really nice for response times. They have been probably cut in half since we have responded out of Alpine," Carlisle said.

The fire district responds to a range of situations, including nursing home emergency medical response, hospital transfers, search and rescue in the American Fork Canyon, home fires and traffic accidents. In addition to their emergency medical training, the paramedics/firefighters are trained in high-angle rope and swift-water rescue.

The district operated at an annual budget this year of $2.7 million. Funding is through three primary contributors: About one-third of the budget comes from a contract with American Fork Hospital to provide patient transfers; one-third from the three city governments of Alpine, Highland and Cedar Hills and also Utah County; the remaining one-third is from federal stimulus grants called Safer Grants. The current Safer Grant funds nine people for five years.

The cities will assume more of the financial responsibility over time. The district is currently applying for another Safer Grant for an additional four to six employees.

"I'm really happy with the way things are and would really like to see our staff increase by one or two employees," Carlisle said.

The facilities, trucks and emergency equipment are state of the art.

The district has 14 vehicles. It owns one ladder truck, one 100-foot platform truck, and four ambulances. It also has three four-wheel drive, 250-gallon brush trucks for combating brush fires. In addition, there are two water supply vehicles that carry three and four thousand gallons of water. The hospital transfer contract will not be renewed and consequently one ambulance is for sale.

Six paramedic/fire employees are on duty 24 hours, seven days a week. Twelve of them are full-time and the remaining 28 are part-time. There are three shifts, or platoons, and they rotate 48 hours on and 96 hours off. Carlisle, Deputy Chief Brad Freeman and Administrative Manager Nancy Jones all work full-time. Previously, Freeman worked with the Murray Fire Department for 20 years. Carlisle worked in Alpine for 34 years, starting as a volunteer firefighter at age 17. He has served as a chief for 11 years.

The growth of the department hasn't been painless.

The immediate neighbors of the new fire station in Highland have been impacted by the presence of a fire station. Lights and noise are a consideration that the department is currently mediating with the possible addition of more trees to block the light. The department also has reduced the use of lights and sirens until they turn out of the neighborhood and onto the Highland Highway to reduce impact to the neighbors.

The department is part of Lone Peak Public Safety Department, a joint governmental committee of Alpine, Highland and Cedar Hills. The three city administrators are the directors of a mayor-appointed board comprised of city council members.

Cedar Hills PSD board member, Jim Perry, said the group had been productive.

"I think we have accomplished a lot and have been fiscally conscientious and responsible," he said. "I'm proud of our progress."

The Highland Fire Station is located at 5600 W. 11800 North adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Power Highland sub-station. The fire station provides public tours, CPR classes, and merit badge classes for Boy Scouts among other services to the community. To make an appointment, contact Nancy Jones at (801) 763-5365. For an emergency requiring Fire/EMS services call 911.